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Best private high schools in New Hampshire

Written by:
April 10, 2024
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Best private high schools in New Hampshire

As filmmaker and writer Nora Ephron said during a '96 commencement address at Wellesley College, "Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead." If that's the case, high school may be one of the greatest dress rehearsals of all.

It's a place where students explore their interests, dive into extracurricular activities, finally get the freedom to choose their own classes, and prepare for college or the workplace. For many of these students and their families, education is key: 1.4 million students enrolled in private high schools in fall 2021, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. There were about 3,600 private secondary schools nationwide as of 2020.

For many anxious parents, getting their kids into the best of these private high schools is of the utmost importance. Some families even move homes to send their kids to better schools. However, among all of these thousands of schools, a few stand out for their academic excellence, incredible track records, and the future success of their young students.

Stacker compiled a list of the best private high schools in New Hampshire using 2024 rankings from Niche. Niche uses seven weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on academics, but other factors include culture and diversity; sports; clubs and activities; resources; and surveys of parents, teachers, and students.

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#30. Laconia Christian Academy

- Location: Laconia, NH
- Enrollment: 170 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B

A student filling out a scantron form for a multiple choice test.
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#29. Jesse Remington High School

- Location: Candia, NH
- Enrollment: 45 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B

A student talking to a teacher in the hallway.
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#28. Trinity Christian School

- Location: Concord, NH
- Enrollment: 228 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B

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#27. Bishop Brady High School

- Location: Concord, NH
- Enrollment: 301 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B

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#26. Immaculate Heart of Mary School

- Location: Richmond, NH
- Enrollment: 43 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B+

A high school student doing a chemical experiment.
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#25. South Merrimack Christian Academy

- Location: Merrimack, NH
- Enrollment: 153 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B+

A high school student sitting at a desk writing on a piece of paper.
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#24. Mount Zion Christian Schools

- Location: Manchester, NH
- Enrollment: 150 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B+

A student raising their hand in class.
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#23. Concord Christian Academy

- Location: Concord, NH
- Enrollment: 318 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B+

An empty school hallway lined with red lockers.
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#22. Holy Family Academy

- Location: Manchester, NH
- Enrollment: 95 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

A student solving a math equation on a whiteboard.
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#21. Trinity High School

- Location: Manchester, NH
- Enrollment: 334 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

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#20. Dublin Christian Academy

- Location: Dublin, NH
- Enrollment: 174 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

A hallway lined with green lockers.
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#19. Busche Academy

- Location: Chester, NH
- Enrollment: 110 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

A side view of a person using a laptop in the school library.
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#18. Bishop Guertin High School

- Location: Nashua, NH
- Enrollment: 788 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

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#17. Tabernacle Christian School

- Location: Litchfield, NH
- Enrollment: 70 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

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#16. High Mowing School

- Location: Wilton, NH
- Enrollment: 361 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

A group of students walking down the hall with their backs facing the camera.
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#15. Mount Royal Academy

- Location: Sunapee, NH
- Enrollment: 195 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

An overhead view of high school pupils in group study sitting around circular tables.
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#14. Oliverian School

- Location: Pike, NH
- Enrollment: 32 (4:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

Students using microscopes in science class.
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#13. Portsmouth Christian Academy

- Location: Dover, NH
- Enrollment: 645 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

High school students studying and reading together in their school library.
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#12. Tilton School

- Location: Tilton, NH
- Enrollment: 240 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

Students raising their hands for class participation.
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#11. Waterville Valley Academy

- Location: Waterville Valley, NH
- Enrollment: 18 (1:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

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#10. Brewster Academy

- Location: Wolfeboro, NH
- Enrollment: 339 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

Two students sharing a book.
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#9. The Derryfield School

- Location: Manchester, NH
- Enrollment: 399 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

A high school student doing classwork on their laptop.
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#8. New Hampton School

- Location: New Hampton, NH
- Enrollment: 347 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

A teacher writing an equation on a blackboard using chalk.
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#7. Proctor Academy

- Location: Andover, NH
- Enrollment: 371 (4:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Students' backpacks sitting on a hallway floor.
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#6. The White Mountain School

- Location: Bethlehem, NH
- Enrollment: 140 (4:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Bookshelves at a high school's library.
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#5. Kimball Union Academy

- Location: Meriden, NH
- Enrollment: 340 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

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#4. Holderness School

- Location: Holderness, NH
- Enrollment: 300 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Two rows of red lockers.
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#3. Dublin School

- Location: Dublin, NH
- Enrollment: 169 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

Empty desks in a high school classroom.
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#2. St. Paul's School

- Location: Concord, NH
- Enrollment: 530 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

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#1. Phillips Exeter Academy

- Location: Exeter, NH
- Enrollment: 1,074 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Emma Rubin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

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